Automatic lift for show-case covers



(No Model.)

. J. LEHNBEUTER.

v AUTUMATIG LIFT POR SHOW CASE COVERS.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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.IOSEPI-I IiEI-INBEUTER, OF S'I. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

y AToMATlc LIFT FOR eHow-CASE COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,891, dated April15, 1890.

Applicant.. nea september 27, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEHNBEUTER, of the city of St. Louis, in theState of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inAutomatic Lifts for Show- Case Covers, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had Ato the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for effectf ing an automaticbalance-lift for the covers of show-cases, which holds said cover inequipoise at any desired elevation; and the invention consists infeatures of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in theclaims.

Figure I is a vertical section taken on line I II, Fig. III, and showsthe arrangement of the pivoted link-balance devices with the coverclosed. Fig. II is a like view taken on the saine line, with the coverpartially elevated; and Fig. III is a horizontal section taken on lineIII III, Fig. I, and shows the position of the devices for the automaticlift of the cover at the end of the case.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the bottom of thel case; 2, theback frame, 3 the front frame, and 4 the side frames, of the show-case5.

6 represents the panels that are inclosed in said frames, which panelsare preferably of bevel glass.

7 represents the base bracket-frame that surrounds the bottom of thecase.

Sis a bracket-strip attached externally to the top of the back frame ofsaid case,l and 9 is an intermediate bracket-frame that surrounds. andstrengthens the middle of the case as the base frame does the bottom.

10 represents the frame of the cover of the case, and 11 is the bowedpanel which is inclosed in said frame, which, like the panels in theother frames of the case, is preferably of glass, for the threefoldreason that said glass panels are ornamental, they admit light withinthe show-case for the better exhibit of the articles shown therein, andprovide a view of said articles even when the case is closed. The frameof the cover is secured to the top back strip 12 by the hinges 13, saidstrip being securely attached tothe top of the rear frame of theshow-case.

Serial No. 325,263. (No model.)

14 are the casters on which the case is mounted, and 15 is the steppedplatform or false bottom inside the case, for the support of umbrellas,canes, &c., which are thus stationed on raised steps or tiers 11, eachsucceeding step backward being elevated to a higher level than that infront of it, so as to exhibit said articles to the best advantage',respectively.

I will now describe the devices, which, conjunctively with a slighttouch 0f the hand, automatically lift the cover of the show-case andhold it in equipoise at any elevation at which it is placed.

16 represents the boxing which incloses the well 17, in which thebalance-weight 18 hangs pendent from the cord 19, which cord is securedby splicing or otherwise to the eyelet 20, that surmounts said weightand is integral therewith. The said cord runs over the pulley 21,l whosejournal-pin 22 has its bearings 23 in the journal-boxing 24., the ianges25 of which j ournatboxing are secured to the boxing 16 of the well inwhich the weight hangs by the screws 26. The fast end of the weight-cord19, after passing over the pulley 21, is secured to the loose end of thepivotal lever 27 by passing between the forks 28 of its bifurcated endand being attachedvby screws or rivets 29 or otherwise to said lever.The upper pivotal end of said lever is secured to the bracket-block 30by the pivot pin or screw 31, on which said lever has itshinge-bearing), the said pivot-screw, after passing through saidbracket-blocks, having its screw-point seated in the side piece 4- ofthe case, the lever being thus held to the bracket-block and saidbracket-block to the side piece, to which it is further secured by thescrew 83.

34 represents a vertical pivotal fulcrumlink, the lower end of which issecured about l onequarter way from the lower end of the fulcrum-lever27 by the pivot pin or screw 35,

which passes through and is seated in the v IOO ` seated in theperforate bearing in said fulcrunrlink and hanger-bracket.

The `operation of the device is as follows;

` The system of links or levers being, asA described, pivotallyconnected to the body of `the case at one end and to the under side ofthe cover at the other, andthe weight 18,v -which is a sufficientequipoise to balance the cover, being connected by the, cord 19 with theloose endof 'the fulcrum-lever 27, the Weight of the cover is so exactlybalanced thereby that it `requires but the slightest the fulcrum-linkpasses back of the center bearings of its pivotal attachment to thefulcrum-lever, and in consequence in both its extreme positions closedon the one hand and fully opened on the other the weight has anincreased eect in holding the cover in the first case tightly closed, soas to prevent the inroads of dust, and in the latter case fully elevatedto its vertical position out of interference with the inspectingcustomers or with' the salesman who is waiting on them. At the sametime, as heretofore stated, the cover is so nearly'balauced by theweight that Y it will remain in any intermediate position in which it isplaced by the salesman--as, for instance, as shown in a medium elevationin Fig. II.

I have shown and described one system of fulcrum pivotal automatic liftsat one'end of theV show-case, which is sufficient in short cases; but Ido not confine myself to a single lift, for it is evident that the samesystem of automatic lift maybe and preferably is in long show-casesduplicated at the other end of the case, as shown in broken lines inFig. III.

I do not describe again the several parts of bodyof the case, its hingedcover, the lever `27, pivotally hinged to the body of the showcasa-thefulcrum-link 34, pivotally connected to the lever 27 and to said cover,the balanceweight 18, and the cord 19, that connects said weight to theloose end of the lever 27, the said lever, link, vand balance-Weightsecured thereto being arranged as a coadjntant automatic lift of thecover ofthe case, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a show-case, the combination of the body of the show-case, its`hinged cover, the lever 27, the bracket-block 30, the pivot-screw 31,which screw pivo tally secures said fulcrumlever to the body ofthecase, the balanceweight 18, the weight-cord 19, that attaches saidweight tosaid fulcrum-lever, the pulleywheel 21, over which said `cordruns, the fulcrum-link 34, ,the pivot screw or pin 35, that hinges saidlink to said lever, the hangerbracket 37, secured to the -cover of thecase,

`and the pivot screw or pin that secures said link to said hangerarranged as a coadjutant automatic lift of the cover, of the case,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a show-case, the combination of the body ofthe showcase, thehinged cover of said case, the stepped platform inthe bottom of saidcase, the pivoted fulcrum-lever 27, the balance-weight 18, the cordthatconnects said balance-weight to said lever, the pulley over which saidcord works, the hanger-bracket 37, secured to said cover, and the link34, s aid link being pivotally hinged to said hangerbracket and saidfulcrum-lever, arranged as coadjutaut automatic lifts for said cover,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. JOSEPH LEHNBEU'FER. Inpresence of- BENJN. A. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT.

